The collection is open for research. Access to files covered by California personnel records legislation is restricted for
50 years from the latest date of the materials in those files. Access to student records is restricted for 75 years from the
latest date of the materials in those files. Special Collections and Archives policy places access restrictions on material
with privacy issues for a specific time period from its date of creation. Restrictions are noted at the file level.

Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their
heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Born digital files processed by Audra Eagle Yun and Matthew McKinley, February 2013. Professional papers processed by Alexandra
Bisio, August 2013.

Historical Background

Mark Poster was Professor of History and Film & Media Studies at the University of California, Irvine, and also taught in
the Critical Theory Emphasis. Additionally, he had appointments in the Department of Information and Computer Science and
the Department of Comparative Literature. He authored or edited more than 17 books and 90 articles on European intellectual
history, the social and cultural theory of electronically mediated information, postmodernism, and critical theory, among
other subjects.

His books include
The Utopian Thought of Restif de la Bretonne (1971, electronic reprint, 2000),
Existential Marxism in Postwar France: From Sartre to Althusser (1976),
Critical Theory of the Family (1978),
Sartre's Marxism (1979),
Foucault, Marxism and History: Mode of Production vs. Mode of Information (1984, 1985),
The Mode of Information (1990),
The Second Media Age (1995),
Cultural History and Postmodernity (1997),
The Information Subject (2001),
What’s the Matter with the Internet? (2001), and
Information, Please: Culture and Politics in the Age of Digital Machines (2006), and
Deleuze and New Technology (2009).

Mark Poster earned his B.S. (1962) in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.A. (1965) and Ph.D. (1968) in
History from New York University. After two years at Cooper Union (1967-1969), he came to UCI as Assistant Professor in 1969.
Poster died on October 10, 2012.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

This collection includes the print and electronic teaching and research papers of Mark Poster, Professor of History and Film
& Media Studies at the University of California, Irvine. The collection comprises professional papers and electronic records
created between 1967 and 2009 documenting Poster's career, including teaching materials; research notes; drafts of writings;
publications; correspondence, including emails relating to his association with the Critical Theory Institute at UCI; and
audio and video tapes of interviews given. The collection is composed of materials that reflect Poster's work in critical
theory, cultural and intellectual history, film and media studies, and the social and cultural theory of electronically mediated
information.

This series includes research files, notes, and email correspondence related to Poster's books and other publications, lectures,
as well as his work with the Critical Theory Institute.

Mark Poster selected and transferred these files from his hard drive for the Critical Theory Archive at the UC Irvine Libraries.
UC Irvine Libraries staff migrated most files to PDF/A format for long-term access. Routine records, such as receipts, and
damaged files were not retained.

Subseries 1.1 Administrative records for the Critical Theory Institute at the University of California, Irvine, 1988-1999

Subseries 1.2. Book drafts, 1988-2009

Subseries 1.3. Lectures, 1986-2007

Subseries 1.4. Research files, 1985-2008

Administrative records for the Critical Theory Institute at the University of California, Irvine Subseries 1.1.
1988-1999

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries includes administrative files such as agendas, minutes, correspondence, annual reports, and speaker introductions
associated with Mark Poster's work with the Critical Theory Institute (CTI).

UCIspace @ the Libraries allows for keyword searching, as well as browsing these files by title, author, date, and subject.

Lectures Subseries 1.3.
1986-2007

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries consists of a file directory that includes course descriptions, syllabi, course materials, and other documents
related to Mark Poster's lectures on European intellectual and cultural history, critical theory, and media studies.

UCIspace @ the Libraries allows for keyword searching, as well as browsing these files by title, author, date, and subject.

Research files Subseries 1.4.
1985-2008

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries consists of three directories from Mark Poster's original files, including correspondence, research articles,
citations, reviews, and other documents related to Poster's scholarly interests.

UCIspace @ the Libraries allows for keyword searching, as well as browsing these files by title, author, date, and subject.

Professional papers Series 2.
1967-2008 and undated

Physical Description:
(5 boxes)

Series Scope and Content Summary

The professional papers series contains correspondence; sound and video recordings of interviews, and other material relating
to public appearances; teaching materials; photographs; drafts of writings; and publications. Materials document Mark Poster’s
career as an author and professor of cultural and intellectual history, film and media studies, and the social and cultural
theory of electronically mediated information, in addition to his contributions to critical theory as a member of the Critical
Theory Institute at the University of California, Irvine.

Series Arrangement

Professional papers is arranged in eight subseries:

Subseries 2.1. Academic review materials, 1999-2003.

Subseries 2.2. Bibliographic cards, circa 1970s-1980s.

Subseries 2.3. Correspondence, 1973-2006, undated.

Subseries 2.4. Interviews and public appearance, 1989-2005, undated.

Subseries 2.5. Lectures, 1969-2007, undated.

Subseries 2.6. Photographs, circa 1970s-1980s.

Subseries 2.7. Recorded lectures, 1973, 1980.

Subseries 2.8. Writings and publications, 1967-2008.

Box 1, Folder 1

Academic review materials Subseries 2.1.
1999-2003

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This file contains curricula vitae, bibliographies, and lists produced as part of the academic review process for faculty.
Materials include general biographical information regarding Mark Poster’s education and career, as well as detailed lists
of publications, classes taught, doctorial students supervised, professional memberships, activities, and honors received
up to 2003.

Subseries Arrangement

The materials in this file are in their original order.

Box 5, Folder 8

Bibliographic cards Subseries 2.2.
circa 1970s-1980s

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This file contains a small box of index cards with bibliographic information and notes from works Mark Poster consulted during
research.

Subseries Arrangement

The materials in this file are in their original order.

Correspondence Subseries 2.3
1973-2006 and undated

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The correspondence subseries primarily consists of Mark Poster’s incoming, professional correspondence from scholars, students,
colleagues, academic departments, and university administration. Of particular interest are letters from noted philosophers
Michael Foucault and Edward Said.

Subseries Arrangement

This subseries is arranged chronologically.

Box 1, Folder 2

1973

Box 1, Folder 3

1975

Box 1, Folder 4

1976

Box 1, Folder 5

1977

Box 1, Folder 6

1978

Box 1, Folder 7

1979

Box 1, Folder 8

1980

Box 1, Folder 9

1981

Box 1, Folder 10

1982

Box 1, Folder 11

1983

Box 1, Folder 12

1984

Box 1, Folder 13

1985

Box 1, Folder 14

1986

Box 1, Folder 15-16

1987

Box 1, Folder 17

1988

Box 1, Folder 18

1989

Box 1, Folder 19

1990

Box 1, Folder 20

1991

Box 1, Folder 21

1992

Box 1, Folder 22

1993

Box 1, Folder 23

1994

Box 1, Folder 24

1995

Box 1, Folder 25

1996

Box 1, Folder 26

1997

Box 1, Folder 27

1998

Box 1, Folder 28

1999

Box 1, Folder 29

2000

Box 1, Folder 30

2001

Box 1, Folder 31

2002

Box 1, Folder 32

2003

Box 1, Folder 33

2004

Box 1, Folder 34

2006

Box 1, Folder 35

undated

Interviews and public appearances Subseries 2.4.
1989-2005 and undated

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

The Interviews and public appearances subseries includes audio and video recordings from television and radio appearances,
as well as notes and transcripts from speaking engagement and conference seminars. Topics discussed include postmodernism,
deconstruction, critical theory, cultural and intellectual history, and media and technology.

Subseries Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by title.

Box 4, Item 001-A

"An Interview with Mark Poster"undated

Physical Description: 1 videocassette (VHS)

Box 1, Folder 36

Critical Theory of the Family speech notesundated

Box 4, Item 002-A

"Dr. Mark Poster - Individualism, the Internet, and the Millennium"1999 January 29

Physical Description: 1 sound cassette

Box 1, Folder 37

"From Marx to Foucault - An Intellectual Journey though Critical Theory" and "Foucault and the Frankfurt School," seminar
transcripts
1986-1987

"The Todd Mundt Show - Michigan Radio - Mark Poster Interview"2001 October 22

Physical Description: 1 sound cassette

Lectures Subseries 2.5.
1969-2007 and undated

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries is composed of course descriptions, syllabi, course materials, and other documents related to Mark Poster's
lectures on European intellectual and cultural history, critical theory, and media studies. Notes and photocopies of readings
found with lecture files, but not explicitly connected to a particular class or lecture, have been retained.

Subseries Arrangement

The original order of the lectures subseries has been retained. Materials are arranged loosely by course or course topic.

Box 1, Folder 38-40

Humanities core course1973-1974

Box 1, Folder 41-42

Humanities core course: Critical Theory of the Family1987-1989

Box 1, Folder 43

Humanities core course: Race and Gender1995

Box 1, Folder 44

Humanities core course: Freud1992

Box 1, Folder 45-46

History 29C, The Formation of Modern Society1981-1988

Box 1, Folder 47-48

History 9, 180E, Women, Sex, and the Family1975-1979

Box 1, Folder 49

Humanities 2B, Wagner's Ring and the Nineteenth Century colloquium1983-1988

Box 1, Folder 50

History of Marxist Humanismundated

Box 1, Folder 51

Socialism: Free Universitycirca 1970s-1980s

Box 1, Folder 52

Hegel,
Phenomenology of the Spirit notes
circa 1970s-1980s

Box 1, Folder 53

Comte,
System of Positive Polity notes
circa 1970s-1980s

Box 1, Folder 54

Feuerbach notescirca 1970s-1980s

Box 1, Folder 55

Kierkegaard notescirca 1970s-1980s

Box 1, Folder 56

History 132A, The Enlightenment1982-1986

Box 1, Folder 57

European intellectual History, 1660-18151969-1990

Box 1, Folder 58

European Intellectual History to Hegelcirca 1969-1990

Box 1, Folder 59

European Intellectual History from Hegel to Freud1970-1986

Box 2, Folder 1

History 132B, 112B, and 131B, From Marx to Freud1972-1987

Box 2, Folder 2

Twentieth Century Intellectual History1983

Box 2, Folder 3

Social Theory in the Twentieth Century: Marxism and Existentialism1983-1984

"Foucault: 'Sexuality and Solitude' and 'Birth of Biophysics'1980 November

Box 4, Item 013-A

"Michel Contat; J.M. Domenach - Paris"1973 September 10

Box 4, Item 014-A

"Richard Gombin; Edgar Morin; Kostas Axelos - Paris"1973 September 15

Box 4, Item 015-A

"Stanley Pulberg; M.A. Burnier"1973 September 6

Writings and publications Subseries 2.8.
1967-2008

Subseries Scope and Content Summary

This subseries contains drafts and published copies of Mark Poster’s writing spanning his academic career. Materials include
drafts of Poster’s doctorial and early work, non-English translations of later books, a large number of journal, magazine,
and encyclopedia articles, as well as volumes of essays to which Poster contributed or served as editor. Works in this series
cover a variety of topics including cultural history, critical theory, media studies, and culture and technology.

Subseries Arrangement

This subseries is arranged alphabetically by title.

Box 3, Folder 1-14

Articles and reviews1974-2006

Historical Note

Many of the publications in these files may have been collected and submitted as exhibits for Mark Poster’s academic review.

Scope and Contents Note

Contains offprints, photocopies, and full journals featuring scholarly essays, magazine and encyclopedia articles, as well
as book and article reviews. A small number of drafts are included.